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Topic: NANY Folk, I can make your icon if you want... (Read 9244 times)

I have a few days off for Winter Break, so I'll make (an) icon(s) for someone if they need. I always want to contribute to the NANYs, but I'm not a programmer.Here is an example of some icons I made (to be used only with zabkat's xplorer2) http://i.imgur.com/qMzyv.png (If you're a frequenter there you might notice some faces Also note that some of the images are based on existing icons ) I also make one for a fellow here last year... "NetLaunch" I think.Not the greatest artwork in the world I know, but folks aren't obligated to use a graphic if it doesn't turn out the way they want.

Stoic Joker, GotSpace? looks like a pretty cool utility! And BTW I've used T-Clock for years !! Do you (or anyone) have any thoughts on what visual image corresponds to "ability to view drive space available?"I imagine it would include a magnifying glass... Or a ruler(?)

Do you (or anyone) have any thoughts on what visual image corresponds to "ability to view drive space available?"I imagine it would include a magnifying glass... Or a ruler(?)

I'm guessing something along the lines of the default drive properties dialog's pie chart. But not the boaring flat 2 dimensional type that I would end up creating (for me, art skills = no). Actually I was hoping someone else had a better idea...

Okie dokey... I'm off to a good start.http://i.imgur.com/KXNJM.pngor at least somekind of start!I kept the same goddaweful colors that Microsoft uses, because that's what makes it visually recognizable to our brains.

The idea of "monitoring" or "seeing" suggests a magnifying glass, reading glasses, a ruler, or some other measuring device. I think magnifying glasses are way over-used in app icons, so I found these examples of calipers on a Google Image search. Thought I'd replicate one of them and have it measuring the pie chart. Which do you prefer though? Plain old A, or fancier D? I sortof like D better, but the icon should be recognizable even at 16x16 pix... (of course I can always make a different image for low-rez/hi-rez).

Okie dokey... I'm off to a good start.http://i.imgur.com/KXNJM.pngor at least somekind of start!I kept the same goddaweful colors that Microsoft uses, because that's what makes it visually recognizable to our brains.

The idea of "monitoring" or "seeing" suggests a magnifying glass, reading glasses, a ruler, or some other measuring device. I think magnifying glasses are way over-used in app icons, so I found these examples of calipers on a Google Image search. Thought I'd replicate one of them and have it measuring the pie chart. Which do you prefer though? Plain old A, or fancier D? I sortof like D better, but the icon should be recognizable even at 16x16 pix... (of course I can always make a different image for low-rez/hi-rez).

Yes, D tracks much better with the cartoon mad scientist measures monkey brain aesthetic which has best proven to please our target demographic.

I included a large PNG for whatever use. The ICO has an outline applied around it. I did that because the calipers looked kindof spindly and skeletony...I might rework it so the caliper parts are all thicker and the dark grays on the calipers are darker. It doesn't seem to have much contrast next to the superdark pie chart (or should I lighten the pie chart?) At least the image is recognizable at 16x16, which is the important part. The ICO has all standard Windows icon sizes from 16x16 to 256x256. I noticed that when viewed at 256 the outline looks a bit jagged. I might try to get rid of that too.Anyway, let me know what you think.

Yea, I did have the calipers higher so that the tips were just touching the pie (i.e. measuring it). That made the overall image tall/narrower though.By 'rotate' are you thinking so it looks like it's sitting flat on the table, or so that the calipers are actually measuring the pink wedge?

Here's a quick fix... http://i.imgur.com/1F3zI.pngThe pink and blue seem washed out now... I guess I should make the calipers darker instead.Also the calipers are more or less 2D. I'd have to rotate them fwd a bit for true 3D grooviness. I can probably do it, but it might take a while.

Hm... Okay, got an idea. The icon/image really has to end up square so I'm thinking the calipers ain't helping us any. Why not just go with the pie chart basically head on but tipped just enough to show it's 3D. Set the (free space) pink to only 20% (because it's pink...) with the rest blue (I like blue), and then overlay a question mark. Which will track with the program's name.

It's not quite as exciting ... but it should be easier to optimize so it can be both small and recognizable.

@Phil, That one is nice, but it lacks kunkely goodness. @Sto, Yea, I have to agree about the calipers not really working... Though, strictly-speaking, the icon is square, it's just that the side borders each have a bit that is transparent. Here are some new things I was tinkering with:Edit: see below.The left one is square, but I have to have the question mark overlap to achieve it. The middle one it flat (not tilted) but still has a 3Dish iconiness about it.Note that I put the pink wedge back on the left, because that's were the Windows drive properties puts it. The question mark definitely goes well with the "Joker" element. I'm surprised I didn't think of it! What color do you want it to be? For some reason I keep imagining it green... Also, look on your computer and see if there's a font you might like better.

Okay, pie on the right is perfect. Question mark with drop shadow is great also maybe make it just a touch smaller and/or lower so it fits within the pie (I have a odd "sense" of symmetry).

Green question mark was Batman's Joker ... But I'm ok with that (Keep the green).

Font. ROFL ...What a brilliant question! To sum up the essence of a thing with a single character ... One must indeed chose quite carefully. I believe this is an MS Office font, but I'm not completely sure:

@PhilB66 - Thanks, but I just hate to give up and grab something off-the-shelf, when we're on the verge of greatness (or the edge of a cliff *Shrug* However it turns out...)